Sheep Gal Blog | Foxfire Fiber & Designs

Zoe Update

January 17, 2012 | 13 Comments

Mike and I thank you for your great puppy rehab ideas. Zoe appreciates your get well wishes.

She's home now. We picked her up Thursday, just in time for a heap of snow. It's just what we needed to make her homecoming more interesting.

She was pretty out of it in the car on the way home, poor little peanut! We created a puppy hospital pen in the kitchen by moving out the table and chairs. Zoe has the cozy breakfast nook all to herself. She spent lots of time sleeping in there during the first few days. She came home on all kinds of pain meds and it's probably just as well that all she wanted to do was snooze. You can see how fur they shave off her in the pic below.

The "Comfy Cone" keeps her from licking at her sutures. She has a set of staples in her elbow and a zipper in her belly (from her spay). She really doesn't seem to mind wearing the cone. It's padded and has fancy velcro closures, worlds better than the old-style Elizabethan collars we used to use.

Mike and I took turns entertaining Zoe during her waking moments. On Friday I went grocery shopping and surprised Mike and Zoe by coming home with two parakeets. Zoe thinks it's pretty cool, having her very own birds. They're on the table where she can watch them from her pen. Birdies spend as much time watching her as she does watching them. But they were no substitute for Farley.

By Saturday morning she'd decided that life was boring without her brother. So on Sunday Farley came home. His favorite place to be is in Zoe's hospital pen! Mike and I take turns sleeping in there with them. Even though they can't play, they seem content to be in each other's company. Farley still gets his outdoor play time and leash walks, but Zoe is pretty much confined to the kitchen for now. She's remarkably good about it. I think having Farley home again has restored a sense of normalcy, though things still feel far from normal as we continue to make our way through Zoe's convalescence.

They're such sweet dogs, so loving with each other. Farley may be Zoe's best medicine yet.

BTW

Farley also loves the birdies.

Categories: animals/wildlife, fiber farm, and PS Dogster.
Tags: elbow dysplasia, puppies, and puppy rehab.

Puppy Troubles

January 11, 2012 | 23 Comments

I have some sad news. Zoe has elbow dysplasia. Yesterday she had surgery at Veterinary Specialist of CT. We set out for Hartford in the morning. I rode in the back seat with her and knit while Mike drove. She napped and minded my yarn. (BTW, she loves when I knit; the soft click of needles and occasional tug at the yarn tell her exactly where I am and what I'm doing without her opening her eyes).

Hartford is a long ride from Shelburne but our consult with our local canine ortho-expert, Dr. Benson (Veterinary Emergency & Speciality Hospital of South Deerfield) and the xrays he took of her elbows last week pointed us in this direction, the sooner the better, in his opinion.

So getting her there took pretty much all day. After a long consultation with Dr. Berzon of Veterinary Specialty of CT, we left Zoe in his hands. Dr. Berzon confirmed the diagnosis of elbow dysplasia and some serious degeneration of her right elbow. He performed arthroscopic elbow surgery to relieve painful joint yesterday afternoon.

I know this news must feel out of the blue, but we have had some suspicions about her legs since November when we noticed lameness on and off. I was waiting for x-rays and a first and second opinion before commenting saying anything about it. It sucks. Sorry. But that's it, in a nutshell.

We have two beautiful puppies who love to romp, fetch, "fence" with sheep and ramble the woods and fields. Farley seems robust and healthy. Zoe has an inherited joint disease that will seriously impair her freedom to do almost everything puppies love do. It's just not fair.

There are things we can do to make her feel better, but it is not a fixable problem. It will get worsen as she ages. I found this little bit of info, if you're interested in learning more about elbow dysplasia. We are heart sick.

Dr. Berzon called at dinnertime last night to say Zoe's surgery went well, she's resting comfortably. We pick her up later this morning. She's going to be sore for 4-6 weeks and will need to stay calm for two to four months for healing to take place. Physical therapy starts for her next week.

In the meantime, Farley is staying with friends, so Zoe can take it easy when she gets home today. Our friends have two goldens, so Farley is having a great time.

It will be really interesting to see how we can make this all work when he comes home this weekend. I'm not sure how we're going to do this. Have you ever been in this situation? Do you have tips for raising two puppies while keeping one from running, jumping, rough housing, climbing stairs, etc.?

I'd love to hear from you.

Sorry for such a bummer of a post to start the new year, but we have our work cut out for us. She is a super-sweetie and we will do whatever it takes.

Categories: animals/wildlife, fiber farm, and sheep.
Tags: elbow dysplasia, puppy, sheep, and Zoe.

Wintering Rams

January 5, 2012 | 15 Comments

Following a snowless December, 2012 is off to a cold start. I don't mind the cold, nor do the sheep.

Our rams and wethers are still in the paddock behind our house at the top of the hill (except for Chai and Cinder, who are down at the farm for breeding season). In most years, we've moved everyone down to the big barns by this time. This season, we're waiting for weather to force the issue. As soon as we hear snow in the forecast, it will be time to bring all sheep back to the farm for winter.

In the meantime, we're enjoying not shoveling and plowing snow. And the boys have enjoyed getting to know our new puppies. Farley and Zoe help Mike with sheep chores.

And the puppies are now uber-brave about approaching the scary sheep at the fence line. Sometimes they have stare downs. Mostly the sheep win, and then they butt the fence. The pupsters skedaddle.

Sorry for the long blogless lapse. Raising two pups is a huge energy/time vacuum. Add to that running a sheep farm and a fiber business. Then throw in the wedding of my son(!) and the holidays. It's been a hectic few months.

I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday season. Wishing you a bright start to this new year!

Categories: animals/wildlife, fiber farm, Handspinning, knitting, and sheep.
Tags: puppy, rams, sheep farm, and winter.

Snow Pups

October 28, 2011 | 25 Comments

Our puppies reveled in their first snowfall. A dusting of 4 inches stuck to the ground here in the highlands. OMG what a surprise for two rambunctious pupsters at first light!

Hard to get a picture of them standing still, but I thought you'd enjoy watching their morning play in their transformed back yard.

Now I'm off to visit the sheep. Happy Friday.

Categories: animals/wildlife, fiber farm, PS Dogster, and sheep.
Tags: New England, puppies, sheep farm, and snow.

Changing Pastures

October 23, 2011 | 9 Comments

Today's post is in celebration of the simple joy of moving sheep on a sunny afternoon. I can't remember the last time I rotated pastures with the sun shining. The only good thing about wet weather is the grass is still growing like mad. Fingers crossed for a solid week of dry so we can make hay. Check out the mid-afternoon long shadows, a true sign of the season.

In the meantime, sheepies love tall grass. Nom, nom nom . . . . .

Thanks to everyone for sharing my frustration over my Rhinebeck fiasco. More about that and about the wrap-up of our fall KAL, and about pupsters, and about Sheep Shares 2012 in another post.

Soon.

Categories: animals/wildlife, fiber farm, Handspinning, knitting, and sheep.
Tags: fiber farm, pasture, sheep, and Sheep Shares.

NOT READY FOR RHINEBECK

October 14, 2011 | 6 Comments

Yep, you heard me right. This is bad.

Due to a major technical/bureaucratic glitch, I did not receive my NYS Sale Tax Certificate of Authority in time to participate in this year’s festival (despite being told on 10/3 that I would have it in time). Since everything I sell in Duchess County NY is subject to NY sales tax, I am sorry to report that I am unable to participate in this year’s festival as a vendor.

I learned this yesterday morning. You should have seen the smoke coming out of my ears.

So I have a hotel room, a rental van, a booth space – but nothing to sell this weekend.

Mike and I have decided to make the best of a crummy situation. We will be at our "non-booth" space in building A, space 29-30 from 11 – 1 tomorrow (Saturday, October 15) to say hello and to celebrate the end of our Fall Smash Your Stash Knit Along, which ends tomorrow at the stroke of midnight EST.

Please stop by for goodies and do bring your finished projects. We'd love to take photos.

I am truly looking forward to seeing you and your lovely Foxfire Fiber yarn projects – whether in person or on Ravelry.

Categories: Craft, fiber farm, Handspinning, and knitting.
Tags: Foxfire Fiber, Knit along, and Rhinebeck.

PUPPIES !!!!!

October 14, 2011 | 15 Comments

Meet Farley and Zoe, our golden pups who arrived at the tail end of September.

Life has been non-stop puppy mayhem for three weeks, but we are completely in love with the new members of our family.

Farley and Zoe are half siblings (same father) but since they came from the same breeder and were raised together (only a week apart in age) they think and act like siblings. Farley is a beluga-sized, low-key male. He loves sleeping on his back, tummy rubs and sitting on the couch watching t.v. Zoe is a high-energy, peanut-sized female. She loves ripping around the back yard like a greyhound, taunting her "little" brother and sometimes sitting still long enough to cuddle.

Our house is a puppy nursery. Our days are full of puppy-potty routines, clicker training, lessons in leash walking and house manners. Since they both love chewing everything in sight, and digging holes to east India, we have our work cut out for us.

Oh, and they both are terrified of sheep. We are working on that too . . .

Our gardens, rugs and furniture may suffer for the time being, but what joy to have the smell of wet dogs in the house on a rainy day once again.

Puppy kindergarten started last week. We're working hard with canid behavior specialist Elise McMahon of Canine Head Start on channeling their energy and teaching them about life with people and sheep.

I'll keep your posted on our progress.

Categories: animals/wildlife, fiber farm, PS Dogster, and sheep.
Tags: Golden Retrievers and puppies.

Autumn Knit Along – Cast On!

September 4, 2011 | 5 Comments

Today is the official Cast-On day for Foxfire Fiber's "Crash Your Stash" Autumn KAL. The rules are easy, and the prizes are great! There's still time to join us.

"What will you create from our wool?"

Up for grabs are NINE prizes – comprised of both brand new Foxfire yarns (& spinning fiber) and vintage Foxfire Fiber & Designs skeins no longer available to the public.

The best part of this KAL is you get to do whatever project you want. We're calling this a KAL but projects may be knit, crotchet, handspun, woven or felted. The only requirement is you use Foxfire Fiber & Designs yarn or fiber. Use your stash (or more recent FFF acquisitions) and your imagination.

Here are the guidelines:

– Forward this post to anyone you think needs a little encouragement to crash their stash (you may forward this to yourself if you have to).

– Join our Ravelry group: Foxfire Fiber Friends.

– Post your intent to join the KAL in the thread, "KAL Joining Thread Foxfire Fiber Autumn 2011".

– Cast on no earlier than 9.4.11. You can cast on after today, just be sure to finish on time!!

- Have fun crashing your stash! Look to the group for ideas and support.

– Finish & Post your finished project on Ravelry by midnight EST on 10.15.11. Be sure to use in the "Finished Projects KAL Autumn 2011." We will draw nine lucky winners from the projects posted there. Winners will be announced both here and in the Foxfire Fiber Friends Ravelry group forum.

– Bask in your sense of accomplishment.

NOTE: You may enter as many projects as you make during the KAL timeframe for more chances to win, but we'll give only one prize per winner.

Nine – that's right, nine – lucky winners will be drawn at random to win one of these beautiful Foxfire Fiber & Designs prizes:

Two vintage Skeins of Hand Paint Border Leicester Mohair yarn
Two vintage Skeins Border Leicester yarn in color "Marcasite"
Two vintage Skeins of Rambouillet cross hand painted yarn
Two vintage Skeins of Rambouillet cross hand painted yarn
An assortment of hand-spinning fiber (Cormo, Border Leicester, Fine Wool Cormo Cross, Some Mohair blends)
Two skeins of our brand new Cormo Camel Silk
Four Skeins brand new Cormo Silk Alpaca Slub Yarn
Two vintage Skeins heavy worsted Border Leicester & Fine Wool in color "Black Currant"
Two vintage Skeins heavy worsted Border Leicester & Fine Wool in color "Hurricane"

I can't wait to see what everyone creates from their Foxfire stashes. I feel so grateful to have such a dedicated group of inspired and inspiring people in Friends of Foxfire Fiber.

Now let's get crashing! Please spread the word.

My KAL project: Foxglove scarf in Foxfire Fiber Cormo Alpaca Lace.

Categories: Craft, fiber farm, Handspinning, knitting, and sheep.
Tags: Foxfire Fiber and Knit along.

Relief for West County

September 2, 2011 | 6 Comments

Stillwater at the Bridge of Flowers & Iron Bridge, Shelburne Falls, MA (photo by Ben Barnhart, 2009)

I'm posting for the second time today in response to a reader comment on my earlier post (thank you Marcy for your thoughtful question). I learned that a fund has been established locally to provide relief to those in Franklin county whose homes and businesses were severely damaged by the storm (please read to the end of this post if you would like to contribute).

I just returned from a trip to the village. After a stop at the P.O. and the bank, I took a stroll over the Iron Bridge, stopping to speak with several business owners along the way. On their behalf I'd like to relay the message that many shops and restaurants are open in the village this weekend.

The gardners are hard at work mending the lovely gardens on the Bridge of Flowers as I type (which I hope means the bridge will soon be open for pedestrian visitors). Shelburne Falls is lovely and visit-worthy, even in its altered state. I'm sure the businesses would be glad to see you!

(note: If you're planning to visit Franklin County Mass. this weekend, please read this travel advisory.)

Information I received earlier today from the Shelburne Falls Business Association:

West County Relief Fund:

Shelburne Falls Area Business Association Organizes West County Relief Fund

The Shelburne Falls Area Business Association (SFABA) with the support of the Central Connecticut River Valley Institute (CCRVI) has established the West County Relief fund to receive funds from the public to be used for relief from the damage caused by Hurricane Irene. Funds will be given out to individuals, families, and businesses to fill needs not met by funds from Federal, State and non-profit sources. Funds raised will be distributed by a committee established by the SFABA.

Donors can make donations (please make checks payable to West County Relief Fund) at any branch of the Greenfield Saving Bank, WHAI, McCusker's Market, Mocha Maya's, Keystone Market, and other area businesses.) Checks made out to West County Relief Fund may be mailed to CCRVI, 6 Warren Court, Shelburne Falls, MA, 01370, to the SFABA, PO Box 42, Shelburne Falls, MA, 01370.

Shelburne Falls and the West County area are still very much here – please support our towns, families, and businesses by coming to visit and patronizing our shops, galleries, and restaurants.
The 3rd Annual Salmon Falls Street Fest is 12-7 PM September 17, 2011, and is dedicated to the recovery of West County. Come and enjoy the festivities in our beautiful village!

Thanks for reading,

Barb

Categories: Current Affairs and Travel.
Tags: Bridge of Flowers, Franklin County, Hurricane Irene, Iron Bridge, MA, Relief fund, and Shelburne Falls.

After the Storm

September 2, 2011 | 8 Comments

We all survived Hurricane Irene. Sheep, llamas, goat, people – all fine here. There are even pears left on the tree. We were very lucky.

Here are a few shots of the farm yesterday afternoon:

Before the storm we had taken measures to keep the sheep well away from risky, flood-prone closest to the brook. They weathered the storm just fine. Oddly enough, they preferred standing outside in the rain, heads pointed into the wind making me really wonder what goes on inside their wooly hears. I supposefFor them last Sunday was just another very windy, rainy day.

That was not the case for many others. In case you haven't heard, this storm wreaked complete havoc on the flatlands of Franklin County, Massachusetts. Our village of Shelburne Falls took the brunt of the Deerfield River's flooding, after water was released from two dams upriver at the height of the storm. A record volume of water swept through the heart of town, washing out homes, roads and businesses.

This video tells the tale:

Ann Brauer's quilt studio is the pink building that floats towards toward the falls. Both the Iron Bridge and the Bridge of Flowers were awash and have been closed since Sunday (the Iron Bridge re-opened to pedestrian traffic yesterday).

The village is coming together for the recovery effort. Remarkably, most businesses up and operating (except for those hardest hit).

When the village was evacuated on Sunday, Holly, Chris and their cat Mikey Two Potatoes came to the farm to ride out the storm. I've been teasing Holly that she picked a heck of a reason to come back and visit the farm. Chris's restaurant, The Blue Rock, suffered flooding when the Deerfield River jumped its banks.
With help from a big crew of volunteers, he and Holly are working hard to clean up and get back in action.

In the case of this storm, our elevation was to our advantage. We feel fortunate to have been spared the worst of it. Our hearts go out to our neighbors, friends and community – and beyond. Amazing that one storm had such widespread disaster.

Thank you everyone for your concern. Our thoughts are with those who were impacted by Irene.

Categories: animals/wildlife, fiber farm, and sheep.
Tags: fiber farm, Hurricane Irene, llama, sheep, and Shelburne Falls.

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